“The Time Is Now! The Negro Self-Help Project!”

Wow! My mind was blown away as I was looking for something and I stumbled upon this.
It was a program brochure which I was excited for my eyes to discover at this particular point and time. This was an event that was sponsored by “The Negro Ministers’ Fellowship” on Monday, November 16th, 1964 which was held at “Washington Street A.M.E. Church.

“The Time Is Now” was sponsored by the Ministers to promote an awakening in our community.

The Presentation of the Program- Reverend William D. Burton;
Panel Presentations: “As Negroes In Newburgh”;
“Let’s Educate For Better Employment” – Mr. John Reavis;
“Let’s Preserve Our Property” -Reverend James L. Best Choral Selection-The Best Temple Choir;
“Let’s Challenge The Churches To Cooperation” – Reverend Robert S. Williams;
“Let’s Build Better Business” – Reverend Frank Jones;
Choral Selection – The Soul Saving Station Chorus;
“Let’s Learn To Live Within The Law”- Reverend William D. Burton;
“Let’s Push Into Politics”- Mr. Ellsworth Potter, Sr.;
Choral Selection – The Ebenezer Baptist Church Chorus;
“Let’s Promote The Professions”- Mr. Samuel Coleman;
“Let’s Look At A Yardstick For Youth” – Reverend John A. Williams;
Questions and Discussion

Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! There are no coincidences because I do believe that God had me to stumble upon this which was presented 56 years ago. God wants HIS church to become more involved. Praise God from whence “ALL” of our blessings flow. As I’m writing this I find it to be quite interesting that I am listening to Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech and I also have in front of me “Why We Can’t Wait” a book which was written by Dr. King in 1964 and I do feel in my spirit that it was meant for this book to be in front of me at this particular time and moment.

On page 107 Dr. King wrote: “Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an arch defender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s silent – and often even vocal-sanction of things as they are. But the judgement of God is upon the church as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.”

The above words were written by Dr. King in 1964. What about today? I find it to be quite relevant that Rev. Willie Mays, President of the “Newburgh Ministerial Fellowship” has recently written a letter to our city government expressing their concerns re: the police’s behavior towards our community and also the status of the upcoming police chief’s examination. Mr. Harvey, president of the local NAACP, also has done likewise. Hopefully, as the 1964 event of our local ministers stated “The Time Is Now” and it most certainly is. “Now”, 56 years later, this city of Newburgh’s government should most definitely listen to the “Voices” of this community. If not, let us remember and not forget in the next City Council Election! Let Us “Never” forget what 2nd Chronicles:7:14 says: “If My People, Who Are Called By My Name, Shall Humble Themselves, Pray, Seek, Crave, And Require Of Necessity My Face And Turn From Their Wicked Ways, Then Will I Hear From Heaven, Forgive Their Sin, And Heal Their Land!” The Time Is Truly Now! Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up!

This is “Lillie’s Point Of View” and I’m just having my say!” What’s Yours?

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